CLDs may be more harmful

The reply to the question in the title of Dr. Robert J. Ostrander’s July 20 essay, “Who chooses medicine, the doctor or the insurer?” was answered in Dr. W. Gifford-Jones’ Aug. 3 column.

Byrna Weir

The reply to the question in the title of Dr. Robert J. Ostrander’s July 20 essay, “Who chooses medicine, the doctor or the insurer?” was answered in Dr. W. Gifford-Jones’ Aug. 3 column.

The question referred to a hypothetical patient being prescribed a “potent” brand name cholesterol-lowering drug when the insurer requires trying a generic first.

The answer was neither, based on other doctors’ opinions stated in the column: The theory that cholesterol causes heart disease is dead wrong. Cholesterol-lowering drugs (CLDs) may be doing more harm than good. Patients taking CLDs had fewer deaths from cardiovascular disease, but an equal number of deaths from cancer.

Dr. Duane Graveline, referenced in the column, suffered from Transient Global Amnesia after taking Lipitor and has since collected “several thousands of cases where CLDs appear to have caused a variety of mental problems.”

Dr. Gifford-Jones states that “in rare instances patients taking CLDs develop degeneration of muscle tissue which in turn can result in death from kidney failure.” Deaths may be rare, but the muscle degeneration is now estimated to occur in at least 18 percent — perhaps 25 percent — of patients. This is hardly rare.

With patients quitting CLDs because of serious side effects, some doctors are now prescribing fish oil and red yeast rice instead — with good results. At this point, the health insurance companies might be justified in refusing to cover any CLD.